A new multi-Agency taskforce is to be established to target foreign interference in Australian activities and interests.
Announced by the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, the new Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce is to be led by a senior Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) officer who will work with a team of Australian Federal Police investigators as well as representatives of AUSTRAC, the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and the Australian Geospatial Intelligence Organisation, with support from the Office of National Intelligence (ONI).
“Our Government is strengthening Australia’s response to the threat of foreign interference with a new taskforce to disrupt and deter anyone attempting to undermine our national interest,” Mr Morrison said.
“This is a boost to our ability to discover, track and disrupt foreign interference in Australia.”
He said the Taskforce would come under the umbrella of resources available to the National Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator, a role established last year within the Department of Home Affairs.
“The increase in intelligence collection, assessment and law enforcement capabilities will help turn more intelligence assessments into operational disruptions to better protect Australians from foreign interference,” Mr Morrison said.
“The new dedicated capability of the Taskforce will also increase collaboration and streamline the decision-making between Agencies and strengthen Australia’s analysis of the sophisticated disinformation activities happening across the world, particularly against democratic processes and elections,” he said.
Mr Morrison said the new Taskforce would be funded to the tune of $87.8 million, building on $38.8 million funding to establish a Foreign Interference Threat Assessment Centre within ASIO, and funding to support criminal prosecutions under new foreign interference offence legislation.
